Refrigerating-machine.



E. T. WILLIAMS.

'REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. I914.

Ll@%fi@9@ Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. T. WILLIAMS.

REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 12, 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

O V vfi doo.

E. T. WILLIAMS. IREFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I2. 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

WMMOZ E. T. WILLIAIVIS.

REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC112,1914.

1 1164 689,. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1 i: i 5% A EIPWARD T. WILLIAMS, DI! "NEW YDBK, N. 531, .ASSIGNOR T0 .ZIRTH'UE WILIZIAMS, DIE ERQOKL'III, NEW TUBE.

BEFRIGEBATING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Dec. 211, I915.

Application filed December 112, 1914;. Serial No. 876330.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD T. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention which forms the subject of the present application for Letters Patent relates to refrigerating machines, particularly machines designed for the use of small consumers, as for example in households; but it is to be understood that the novel features herein described are by no means limited to the type of machines mentioned.

The chief object of the invention is to improve the machine in point of efficiency, whereby a considerably greater refrigerating effect is produced without material if any increase in cost of construction and in expenditure of power for its operation.

In general the invention operates on the usual principle, the cooling or refrigerating effect being produced by the rapid expansion of a gas or vapor, employing preferably a gas which has a rather high critical temperature and liquefies at moderate pressure. In apparatus intended for household use the chamber into which the compressed gas is expanded usually takes the form of a coil of pipe arranged in a suitable refrigerator. This coil may also surround or be otherwise disposed in suitable proximity to a vessel containing water to be frozen. The refrigerating medium is preferably the com pound known as ethyl chlorid, but of course other media may be used if desired.

In the preferred form of the invention I provide a pair of chambers, or casings, in one of which is a suitable pump, preferably of the rotary type. This chamber may therefore be conveniently termed the pump chamber. This pump has its low pressure side connected with the outlet of the expansion pipe, mentioned above and hereinafter referred to asthe expansion chamber. From the high pressure side of the pump the gas drawn from the expansion chamber is discharged under pressure into the other of the two chambers or casings, which may be conveniently termed the compression chamber. Here the compressed gas is cooled to liquefaction by a suitable cooling pump-casing.

medium, preferably water, circulating in a coil of pipe disposed in said chamber. The latter chamber also contains a separator by which any lubricant carried by the gas is separated therefrom and returned to the pump. From the compression chamber the liquefied gas is delivered to an expansion valve and there expanded into the expansion chamber, while the cooling medium from the compression'chamber is discharged into the pump chamber for the purpose of absorbing and carrying-away heat from the pump and other parts therein.

The preferred embodiment of the inventionv is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an outside view of the apparatus, showing it in elevation, but omitting the expansion valve and expansion pipe or chamber. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, about on line 22 of. Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pump-chamber, omitting the pump and certain other parts. Fig. 4 is a side view of the pump and other parts inside the pump-chamber, the casing being in section about on line H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the pump and other parts in the pump-chamber, the casing being in section about on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the charging valves and connections on line 66 of F ig. 1.

The compression chamber 10 and the pump chamber 11, both cylindrical in the present embodiment, are arranged one above the other. The chamber 11 is formed with a too 12; and at one side is a wall 13, providing between the same and the outer wall of the chamber a well or pocket 14, the wall 13 also extending above the top 12 up to about the level of the upper edge of the chamber. The said top or transverse wall 12 slopes or converges downwardly to the well 1 1 and in the vertical wall or portion 13 is a drain port 15. The pump chamber casing and the two walls just mentioned are preferably integral with each other, as a single casting, and the casing is formed on opposite sides with two manholes of large size, provided with removable closures 16, 17 The second closure is provided with an inner boss 18 having a flange 19 to which the rotary pump 20 is fastened, the boss and flange constituting the outer wall of the The pump shaft 21 extends through the boss to the outside of the chamher for, connection with a suitable motor (not shown) and on the outside of the closure or lid is a threaded nipple 22 to receive a stuffing box 23 for the shaft. The pump is thus mounted on and carried by the closure 17 and by removing the latter can be entirely withdrawn from the pump chamber; the closure 16 having first been removed and the pump disconnected from certain parts hereinafter described.

The bottom of the pump chamber 11 is provided with an inner boss 24: and a depending outer boss 25, with a passage through the two, the outer boss being connected to the outlet end of the expansion pipe 26 and the inner to a pipe 27. This pipe has on its upper end a flange 28 bolted to a similar flange on a chambered boss 29 of elongated form extending from the lowpressure side of the pump 20. The gas thus drawn from the expansion chamber or pipe is discharged from the high-pressure side of the pump through a horizontal pipe 30 and elbow 31 (at about the same level as the intake boss or chamber 29). Depending from the elbow is a short pipe 32 having a hori zontal flange 33 bolted to a similar flange on the top of an elbow 34, which latter is connected by a short horizontal pipe 35 to an apertured boss 36 on the partition wall 13. Inside the well or pocket 14 the boss is connected to a vertical pipe 37, which carries the gas to the top of the compression chamber and discharges it against the top of the casing. In this chamber the compressed gas is cooled (by the means hereinafter described) and liquefied, and issues through asmall pipe 38, opening at about the lowest point above the transverse partition or wall 12. From the pipe just mentioned the liquefied gas passes through a pipe 89 down through the well 14: and is delivered through the bottom of the pump chamber to the expansion valve 40 (indicated diagrammatically), whence it is expanded into the expansion pipe 26 at the inlet end thereof. Around the inlet end of the pipe 38 is a suitable strainer, as ll.

The compressed gas in the compression chamber 10 is cooled to the point of liquefaction by av suitable cooling medium, preferably water, flowing through a coil of pipe 42 in said chamber. For this purpose a. pipe 43, connected. to a water-supply (not shown) leads into the pocket or small chamber M which is integral with the casing of the pump chamber and extending above the partition 12, where its upper end is closed by a removable cap 45 provided with an elbow to which the lowest coil d6 of the pipe is connected. The water flows last through the upper turn or coil 47, which is brought down by means of the pipe 47 and connected to an outlet pocket 48, integral with the pump chamber casing but wholly above the partition 12; the connection being made through an elbowed cap (not shown) on top of the pocket. Into the bottom of the pocket 48 is inserted a vertical pipe 4L9 which delivers the water into the lower part of the pump chamber. At a suitable point some distance below the horizontal wall 12 is an outlet port 50 in the side of the pump chamber to which a waste pipe (not shown) may be connected to carry the water ofi. From the foregoing it will be seen that in the cooling pipe ii the water is at its lowest temperature at the bottom, and that in rising through the pipe it gains in temperature; while the gas has its highest temperature at the top of the compression chamber and, descending in the chamber, loses temperature as it passes the ascending cooling medium. In short, as the gas descends in the chamber to the outlet pipe 38 it loses temperature and always finds still colder water ahead of it. The water discharged into the pump-chamber submerges the pump and other parts therein, and absorbs substantially all the heat of compression liberated in the pump. The location of the water outlet portion 50 below the transverse wall 12 is an important feature, as it keeps the surface of the water in the pump chamber well below and out of contact with the wall 12, thereby afiording an air space which serves to insulate the relatively warm water in the pump chamber from the cold gas at the bottom of the compression chamber.

A. non-freezing lubricant, for example glycerin, is used, with which the well. or pocket 14 is filled almost to the drain orifice 15. Inasmuch as glycerin is heavier than the liquefied gas in the compression chamber the glycerin sinks to the bottom thereof and runs out through the port 15 into the well, the separation of the glycerin from the gas being facilitated by the two striking the top of the compression chamber as they are discharged from the vertical pipe 37. From the well 1d the pressure of the gas forces the glycerin through the outlet pipe 51, which passes through a fitting 42* in the side of the well, and is connected by a detachable threeway union 53 to a horizontal pipe 5i. The latter carries the glycerin through a detachable union 55 to the hollow pump-shaft 21, which is provided with suitable ports (not shown) to permit the escape of the lubricant into the shaft bearings. In many cases glycerin will leak out of the bearings and into the pump mechanism in sufiicient amount to lubricate the same, but to insure adequate lubrication of the mechanism provision is made for delivering glycerin directly into the pump. For this purpose a pipe 56 is carried from the three-way union into the elongated boss or chamber 29, (through which, it will be remembered, the gas is drawn from the expansion chamber 26), the said pipe extending preferably through the chamber29 into the pump, as indicated in dotted lines.

When the apparatus is assembled and ready for use the compression and expansion chambers and the pump are filled with air. To get rid of this air or the greater part of it, and to charge the apparatus with the refrigerating medium and the lubricant desired, the following means may beprovided, as in Fig. 6: The boss 36, through which the pipes 30, 32, 35 (Figs. 2 and 4), provided for carrying gas from the high side of the pump to the pipe 37 is extended into the inside of the well 14 to receive the pipe, and has a passage 57 to put the same in communication with pipe 35. This passage is controlled by a valve 58, operable from outside the machine by means of a suitable key, not shown. Normally, that is, when the machine is in operation, the valve is open. At the other side of the well 14 is a passage 59, connected by a pipe 60 (Figs. 4 and 5) to the chamber 29 through which the gas flows from the expansion chamber to the suction side of the pump. The passage 59 leads also to the atmosphere, but its communication therewith is controlled by a valve 61. When the machine is to be charged, the dome 10 and cover- 67 are removed and the required amount of glycerin is put in the well 14. The dome and cover having been replaced, a source of the gas to be used as the refrigerating medium is connected to the valve 61 by means of the union 62 (see also Fig. 1), but the valve is left closed. The valve 58 is then closed, thereby shutting off communication between pipes 35 and 37, and the cap 63 (Fig. l) is removed, thereby putting pipe 35 into communication with the atmosphere through the valve. The pump is now started. This puts a suction on the expansion pipe 26 and the compression chamber 10, drawing air there from and expelling it through the valve 58. When the expansion pipe and compression chamber are sufiiciently exhausted of air the valve 61 is opened, thereby admitting gas to the pipe 60 (Fig. 5) and to thelpump; and I as soon as gas is detected issuing from the valve 58 the cap 63 is replaced and the passage 57 is opened. The'pump being kept in operation, gas from the valve 61 is forced into the compression chamber (through pipes 35 and'37) till the desired amount is delivered into the machine. The condensing pressure is shown by the gage 64 on the valve 58. The supply of gas from the source is now shut off by means of the valve 61. To replenish the supply of lubricant in the machine the valve 61 is connected to a source of glycerin or other suitable lubricant by means of the union 62. Upon reopening the valve, lubricant is drawn into the passage 59 and thence into the pump, and is discharged (with the gas from the expansion pipe) into the compression chamber. When suiiicient lubricant has collected in the well 14, as seen through the window 65 in the outside of the wall, the passage 59 is again closed and a closure is put in the union 62. The passage 59 is now opened, so that the back pressure of the pump can be indicated by the gage 66;-the latter being in communication with the suction side of the pump through the valve 61, passage 59 and pipe 60. It will be observed that the valve stems in the two valves move in opposite directions to close the two passages which they control, the stem of valve 58 being moved in to close passage 57 and the stem of valve 61 being moved out to close passage 59. Since in closing a valve the key or hand wheel is usually turned in the right-hand or clockwise direction, the stem of valve 61 has preferably a left-hand'thread, so that clockwise rotation of the stem will close the valve, thus minimizing liability of error in manipulating the valves.

If desired, a cover 67 (Figs. 2 and 3) with a flange 6 8 inclosing the strainer 41, can be provided for the well 1.4, to prevent splashing of the lubricant out of the well and to keep the end pipe 38 always submerged in the liquefied gas when the apparatus is shaken or oscillated, as would be the case on a ship or a railway train.

A pet-cock 69 at the bottom of the pump chamber permits the latter to be drained when desired.

The inside of the well 14 can be painted white, so that the height of the liquid therein can be readily seen through the window, or a white plate 70 can be placed in the well for the same purpose.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction herein specifically illustrated and described, but can be embodied in other forms without departure from its proper spirit and scope.

I claim:

1.. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber having a well extending from the compression chamber into the pump chamber, a gas-compressing pump in the last-named chamber, an expansion chamber having its outlet connected to the low pressure side of the pump, a conduit extending from the high pressure side of the pump through said well to discharge gas into the compression chamber, means for cooling the gas in the compression chamber, and a conduit arranged to receive compressed gas from the compression chamber and extending through said well into connection with the inlet of the expansion chamber.

2. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a pump chamber, a compression chamber above the same, a well extending (All downwardly from the compression chamber, a pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber having its outlet connected with the suction side of the pump, a conduit extend ing from the high pressure side of the pump through the Well into the compression cham-- her, a conduit extending from the compression chamber through the well into connection with the inlet of the expansion chamber, and a conduit extending from the Well to the pump.

3. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a pump chamber, a compression chamber, a lubricant well extending from the latter into the former, gas-cmupressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber, a conduit extending from the high pressure side of the pump to the Well, a pipe in the Well, connected through the Wall thereof to the said conduit and opening into the compression chamber, means for conreying gas from the outlet of the expansion chamber to the suction side of the pump, means for conveying gas from the compres sion chamber to the inlet of the expansion. chamber, a valve operable from outside the pump chamber to close or open the communication between said pipe and conduit and adapted to put said conduit into communication With the atmosphere When desired, a conduit leading from the Well to the pump to carry lubricant thereto, a conduit connected to the suction side of the pump, and means, including a valve to open and close the last-named conduit, for putting the lastnamed conduit into communication with a supply of gas or a supply of lubricant, at Will.

4. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber, a pump chamber, a gas-compressingpump in the latter, an expansion chamber having its outlet connected to the suction side of the pump, means for conveying gas from the compression chamber to the inlet of the expansion chamber, a conduit for carrying gas from the high pressure side of the pump to the compression chamber, means operable from outside the pump chamber to close the communication between the pump and the compression chamber through said conduit and to open the pump to the atmosphere through said conduit, at will, means for supplying lubricant to the pump, and means, including a valve operable at will from outside the pump chamber, to put the suction side of the pump into communication With a supply of gas or a supply of lubricant, as desired.

5. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a pump chamber, a gas-compressing pump therein, a compression chamber in communication with the high pressure side of the pump to receive gas therefrom, an expansion chamber having its inlet connected with the compression chamber and its incense outlet with the suction. side of the'pump, a valve operable at will from outsidethe pump chamber to close the aforesaid communion tion between the pump and the compression chamber, means to open the high pressure side of the pump to the atmosphere, and means for connecting the suction side of the pump with a source of gas to charge the machine.

6.. in a refrigerating machine, the combinati n of a pump chamber, a gas-compressuinp therein, a compression chamber in con'mmnicalion with the high, pressure side of the pump, an expansion chamber connect ed to the suction side of the pump and to the compression chamber, a valve opinablc at will from outside the pump chamber to close the communication between the pump and the compression chamber and harins port to open the high pressure side of i in pump to the atmosphere, means to open and close said port at will, means for convo ibricant from the compression chamber .:ie pump, a. conduit for conveying gas or iubricant to the pump from a source outside the. pump chamber, and means operable from outside the pump chamber to open and close said conduit.

'2'. In refrigerating machine, the eombination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber having a lubricant well ex tending from the former chamber into the latter, a gas-compressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber, means for conveying gas from the expansion chamber to the interior of the pump, means for discharging gas from the high pressure side of the pump into the compression chamber, and means for conveying lubricant from the said well to the suction side of the pump.

8. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber having a lubricant Well ex tending from the former chamber into the latter, a gas-compressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber, means for conveying gas from the expansion chamber to the interior of the pump, means for discharging gas from the high pressure side of the pump into the compression chamber, and means for conveying lubricant from the Well to the pump-bearings.

9. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber having a lubricant well extending from the former chamber into the latter, a gas-compressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber, means for conveying gas from the expansion chamber to the interior of the pump, means for discharging gas from the high pressure side of the pump into the compression chamber, and means for conveying lubricant from the Well into the pump bearings and into the interior of the pump.

pump, a conduit extending from the high pressure side of the pump, into the compression chamber and arranged to discharge the gas against a wall of the compression chamher, and means for conveying lubricant from the well to the ump.

11. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber below the same, a lubricant well extending from the first-named chamher into the second, a gas-compressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion cham-' ber having its outlet connected with the suction side of the pump, means for discharging gas from the pump into the compression chamber, means for conveying compressed gas from the bottom of the compression chamber to the inlet of the expansion chamber, and means for delivering lubricant from the well to the pump.

12. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression chamber and a pump chamber below the same, a lubricant well extending downwardly from the former chamber into the latter from a point above the bottom of the compression chamher, and having a drain port to receive lubricant from the bottom of the compression chamber, a gas-compressing pump in the pump chamber, an expansion chamber having its outlet connected with the suction side of the pump, a conduit extending from the bottom of the compression chamber and through said well into connection with the inlet of the expansion chamber, and a pipe extending from the bottom of the well to the pump to convey lubricant thereto.

13. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a comp-essior. chamber and a pump chamber below the same, a transverse wall separating the two chambers and common to both, and a well extending downwardly from the compression chamber through the transverse wall into the pump chamber and having a drain port above said wall. v

14:. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a pump chamber, a compression chamber removably mounted on the pump chamber, a transverse wall separating the two chambers and common to both, and a well extending downwardly from the com.- pression chamber into the pump chamber.

15. In a refrigerating machine, the combinat-ion of a pump chamber, a compression chamber above the same, a well extending downwardly from the compression chamber into the pump chamber, and a cover for the well.

16. In a refrigerating machine, a pump chamber casing comprising a bottom wall and vertical side-walls, a vertical wall providing a well and having a port near its top, and a top wall sloping downwardly from the side walls to the said vertical wall below the port therein.

17. In a refrigerating machine, a pump chamber casing having integral side, top and bottom walls, an inner vertical wall integral with the side, top and bottom walls and providing a well, and a pocket integral with the side and top walls and provided with ports above and below the top wall.

18. In a refrigerating machine, a pump chamber comprising a single hollow casting, having side, top and bottom walls, an inner vertical wall providing a well open through the top wall, an opening in the outer wall of the well, man-holes in the casing on opposite sides of the'well, a port in an outer wall, of the casing, and a pocket at the side of the casing and extending upwardly through the top wall.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD 'I. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

HARRYS. WALLENSTEIN, S. S. DUNHAM. 

